Past Conferences

October 13-15 Fall Retreat at DeKoven Center in Racine Wisconsin

The amazing Shelley Graff returned to DeKoven!

A feminist singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Singing In Sacred Circle facilitator, Shelley has been sharing her songs with audiences during the past twenty-plus years. Her folksy, personable approach to performing and facilitating Singing In Sacred Circle workshops, draw her audiences down a path of political inquiry, peace, healing, and transformation. Whether she is sharing her music at political events, women’s conferences, coffeehouses, or music festivals, Shelley charms her way into her listeners’ hearts!

Shelley's third CD is Coming Home. It includes many new songs and chants as well as songs that Shelley has written over the past twenty years. The Coming Home CD starts with a spoken word piece called "Hope" and continues with songs/chants rich with women’s voices as well as, on some pieces, accompaniment of guitar, piano, flute, and cello. As one might expect, there are many women’s voices on this CD. The following women, who Shelley calls her Amazing Spirit Sisters, lovingly added their soulsounds to this recording: Ruth Barrett, Amy Carol Webb, Kathy Crocco, dorrie andermills, Lee Hoffman, Leslie Bevans, Cherie Ackerson, Rachel Alexander, Elizabeth Bolen, Jennifer Powers, Linda Smith Koehler and Women With Wings, the Columbus Singing In Sacred Circle, and the Cincinnati Singing In Sacred Circle. The amazing and inspiring Mary Southard shared her beautiful artwork on the CD cover as well on the back of the Coming Home CD.

At the Fall Retreat, participants attended their choice of afternoon workshop. Shelley Graff offered a workshop focused on deeper analysis of the power of songs in daily life for everyone. We all had the opportunity to work on songs that speak to us in a small group. We wrote some amazing chants!

Singing in Sacred Circle with Shelley Graff who taught more about the power of singing in a sacred circle and acquiring the tools to put together and lead your own circle.

Malas, Mantras and Mudras with Kathy Riley - learn how to use mala beads and pagan prayer beads, practice some Sanskrit mantras and pagan prayers to use with the beads, and learn some mudras (hand yoga) that are good for various phases of a woman's life.

Juggling with Kathy Salzano. Juggling keeps your mind and body in shape, is a wonderful model for learning, and offers a great escape from the stresses of life. You can only learn step by step and with great focus. There's always a new trick to master. Work with scarves, bags, and more -- juggling alone and with friends. The workshop will be differentiated for all participants and materials will be provided (and available for purchase). Leave the pressures of the world behind and get lost in juggling!